The Coming Storm?

UN staff warned against high risk of terrorist attack in Sudan

UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Sudan has issued last Wednesday 31 January an alert of imminent attack against western interest from an extremist group in Sudan.

The U.S. embassy in Khartoum has warned Americans in Sudan of an imminent insurgency strike by an Islamist group. In a warden message on Thursday, the embassy said it was informed by the United Nations Mission in Sudan that an "extremist group based in the country is likely to target Western interests."

The UN alert indicated that threats of this nature must always be taken seriously and staff are therefore requested to remain vigilant and alert.

"Given the focus of extremists on the UN presence in Sudan, it is possible that the primary target of this threat is the UN," the US embassy n message said.

The Sudanese government does not confirm the threat cited in the warden message. But UN diplomats have warned of increasing threats by al-Qaeda and other Islamic fighters against the Western presence in the country. (ST)

It is sad to say but most analysts have been waiting for this warning. The first signs of a growing terrorist threat in Sudan came in September 2006 when Mohammed Taha, the editor of al-Wifaq newspaper, was decapitated by an unknown Islamist group. The Sudan government used to be very effective at monitoring and controlling Islamist groups (those that adopted positions more extreme than their own I mean). Its Islamist credentials gave it access to the information and sympathisers necessary for this kind of work. In recent years their ability to do this has been eroded.

What is worrying is that any terrorist attack is likely to be only a precursor of a wave. After fifteen years of government-sanctioned radicalisation extremist Islamist networks have a fertile recruitment ground amongst fringe elements in Sudan. Sudanese nationals have been detained in Afghanistan, crossing into Israel and other frontline states.

At the moment very few international organisations have protection - the UN and World Bank both have Bremer blocks and walls guarding compounds but many NGOs are vulnerable. These defences a double edged sword - whilst they provide protection, they also really do alienate the population. It is hard to convince the Sudanese that the the West does not seek to recolonise the country when all of our offices are surrounded by barbed wire, security gates, and heavy concrete blocks.